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This site introduces unknown composer Emanuel Bach (C. P. E. Bach). This English version was translated from Japanese one by ChatGPT.

Shapes of Organ Keyboards

Asked ChatGPT4o: “What do you call the part that organists use to play the instrument?”

The part of the organ that the performer actually uses—the controls they operate—is commonly called as follows:

■ General Term for the Parts Used by the Performer:

🔹 Console

The console refers to all the mechanisms that the organist manipulates. It corresponds to the keyboard area on a piano, but is far more complex on an organ.

■ Main Components of the Console:

Part	Description
Manuals	Keyboards played with the hands. From one tier to as many as four or more. Usually 61 keys (C–c⁴).
Pedalboard	Keyboard operated with the feet. Typically 30–32 keys (C–f¹ or g¹).
Stops	Levers or knobs used to select the timbre (pipe ranks). Numerous in arrangement.
Swell Pedal	Foot pedal used to control volume dynamics (especially to open/close shutters of the swell box). This is different from the damper pedal on a piano.
Crescendo Pedal	A pedal that gradually adds stops (automatically changes the stops).
Combination Pistons	Buttons that switch between preset combinations of stops. Operated by finger, knee, or foot.

■ Example Usage:

• “This organ features a three-manual console, and is equipped with a pedalboard and numerous stops.”
• “Bach’s toccata requires full use of both manuals and the pedalboard.”

Supplement:

• There are integrated consoles in classical pipe organs, and there are also those separated and connected remotely (controlled electrically).
• The organist uses their entire body to operate the console—both hands, both feet, and sometimes even knees or hips.

If desired, I can also provide photos or diagrams of actual consoles to further explain each part.

Asked ChatGPT4o: “Since in modern organs the keyboards and pipes are electronically connected, one organ can have multiple consoles. How common are organs that allow both flat and concave/radial pedalboards?”

That’s a very insightful question.

Indeed, **modern organs (especially large pipe organs or those with digital/electro‑pneumatic action)** often have keyboards connected **electronically rather than mechanically (tracker action)**, enabling **multiple consoles** to share a single organ.

■ Are there organs that allow both flat and concave/radial pedalboards?

Conclusion:

• In principle it’s “possible,” but actual organs equipped with both pedalboard types are extremely rare (special designs).
• Consoles with interchangeable or adjustable pedalboards exist only in very limited cases such as research institutions, music universities, or organ workshops.

■ Why are they so rare?

Reason	Description
✅ Practicality Issues	Standard performances only require one format; switching between both during performance is rare.
✅ Design & Cost	Flat and concave/radial pedalboards have fundamentally different structures, requiring design solutions and additional costs to combine.
✅ Performer Specialization	Baroque specialists tend to play historical organs, modern organists favor concave/radial boards; few use both frequently.
✅ Different Standards	Pedalboards follow multiple standards (AGO, BDO, RCO, etc.) and are not easily interchangeable.

■ Exceptional Cases (Dual Pedal Formats)

1. Research Facilities / Organ Workshops

• Examples: Germany’s Orgelmuseum or organ-building firms like Klais, Kuhn, etc.,
• Some have detachable flat or concave pedalboards for historical reconstructions.
• They adopt modular designs for specific projects (e.g., complete Bach performances or recordings).

2. Music Universities / Organist Training Institutions

• Some institutions (e.g., Amsterdam Conservatory, Schola Cantorum Basiliensis) maintain
• practice organs with multiple pedalboard standards.
• Though not full console switches, they allow switching between historical and modern pedal formats.

3. Digital Organs

• In electronic or virtual pipe organ systems like Hauptwerk, Viscount, Allen,
• the pedalboard section can sometimes be physically swapped (requires configuration).
• But to connect with actual pipes, additional extensions are needed.

■ Additional Example: Multiple Consoles with the Same Pedal Format

• In large churches (e.g., Disney Hall in Los Angeles),
• they install a **fixed console at the front (for choir use)** and a **movable console on stage**.
• Pedalboards share the same format (usually concave/radial), but performers can choose based on position or context.

■ Summary

Item	Answer
Organs usable with both flat and concave/radial pedalboards	Possible, but extremely rare
Examples	Present in limited cases at research institutions and music universities.
Reasons	Obstacles include practicality, cost, and non‑interchangeability of standards.
Most viable form	Digital/virtual organs with interchangeable pedalboards.

If you’d like, I can introduce specific examples of specially‑designed organs that accommodate both types, or share design proposals for pedalboards that can be swapped.

Asked ChatGPT4o: “Explain the pedalboard standards (AGO, BDO, RCO, etc.).”

Yes, the **pedalboard standards (standardized dimensions and layouts)** significantly influence organ performance technique and feel. In particular, there are **three major international standards widely recognized today**:

🌍 Major International Pedalboard Standards

Name	Abbreviation	Country/Region	Characteristics
American Guild of Organists	AGO	United States	Concave & radial pedal layout is standard.
Bund Deutscher Orgelbaumeister	BDO	Germany	Flat or slightly concave layout, wider pedalboard.
Royal College of Organists	RCO	United Kingdom	Similar to concave/radial, but shorter pedal keys than AGO.

🔍 Detailed Comparison

Item	AGO Standard (USA)	BDO Standard (Germany)	RCO Standard (UK)
Number of keys	32 keys (C–g¹)	Mostly 30 keys (C–f¹)	30 or 32 keys
Layout	Concave + radial	Parallel and straight, or slightly concave	Mild concave + radial
Key width	Narrower (for better playability)	Wider (reflecting German style)	Intermediate width
Pedal key length	Longer (for toe & heel technique)	Generally shorter	Slightly shorter
Remarks	Standard even on modern digital organs	Closer to Bach‑era design	Reflects UK tradition

🎵 Which Standard is Used Where?

Usage environment — commonly adopted standard:
America & Canada churches, universities — AGO
Germany, Netherlands, baroque-focused instruments — BDO
UK church, halls, music schools — RCO
International standard digital organs (Allen, Viscount, etc.) — often AGO with switchable models.

🧩 Additional Notes & Variants

• DIN standard (German standard) is almost identical to BDO and used in design blueprints.
• Historical organs (16th–18th centuries) had no unified standard; dimensions varied widely by region (toe-only pedalboards, very short pedals, etc.).
• Modern organ builders often allow clients to specify which standard they want.

🏁 Summary

Element — Standardization Status — Remarks:
Manual dimensions — De facto international standard (same as piano)
Manual range — 61 keys (C–c⁴) typically; older organs sometimes 56 keys (C–g³)
Stop knobs placement — No formal standard, but conventions exist for ease of use
Stop naming — Varies by language/culture (German, English, French)

If you wish, I can also provide schematics of the dimensions, guidance on choosing a practice MIDI pedalboard, or compare heel vs toe techniques per standard.

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